Sugiura Shinji
Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
PeerJ. 2021 Sep 3;9:e11657. doi: 10.7717/peerj.11657. eCollection 2021.
Some animals have evolved chemical weapons to deter predators. Bombardier beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) can eject toxic chemicals at temperatures of 100 °C from the tips of their abdomens, 'bombing' the attackers. Although some bombardier beetles can reportedly deter predators, few studies have tested whether bombing is essential for successful defence. Praying mantises (Mantodea) are ambush predators that attack various arthropods. However, it is unclear whether bombardier beetles deter mantises. To test the defensive function of bombing against praying mantises, I observed three mantis species, , , and (Mantidae), attacking the bombardier beetle (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) under laboratory conditions. All mantises easily caught the beetles using their raptorial forelegs, but released them immediately after being bombed. All of the counterattacked mantises were observed to groom the body parts sprayed with hot chemicals after releasing the beetles. When treated that were unable to eject hot chemicals were provided, all mantises successfully caught and devoured the treated beetles. Therefore, bombing is essential for the successful defence of against praying mantises. Consequently, can always deter mantises.
一些动物已经进化出化学武器来威慑捕食者。放屁甲虫（鞘翅目：步甲科：扁甲亚科：扁甲族）能够从腹部末端喷射出温度达100摄氏度的有毒化学物质，“轰炸”攻击者。尽管据报道一些放屁甲虫能够威慑捕食者，但很少有研究测试“轰炸”对于成功防御是否至关重要。螳螂（螳螂目）是伏击性捕食者，会攻击各种节肢动物。然而，尚不清楚放屁甲虫是否能威慑螳螂。为了测试针对螳螂的“轰炸”防御功能，我在实验室条件下观察了三种螳螂，即中华大刀螳、广斧螳和薄翅螳（螳科）攻击放屁甲虫环斑猛步甲（步甲科：扁甲亚科：扁甲族）的情况。所有螳螂都能用它们的捕捉足轻松抓住甲虫，但在被“轰炸”后会立即释放它们。所有反击的螳螂在放走甲虫后都被观察到会梳理被热化学物质喷洒过的身体部位。当提供经过处理而无法喷射热化学物质的环斑猛步甲时，所有螳螂都成功抓住并吃掉了经过处理的甲虫。因此，“轰炸”对于环斑猛步甲成功防御螳螂至关重要。因此，环斑猛步甲总能威慑螳螂。
